Life-preserver.



B. FRANKLIN.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FlLED OCT. 30, 1914.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

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' B. FRANKLIN.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1914.

1,174,556. Patented Mar. 7,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

*rn ens BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN LIFE BUOY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

ravines.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Application filed October 30, 1914. Serial No. 869,424.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a speclfication.

My invention relates to improvements 1n life preservers, and has for its object the production of a device of this character which will be of improved construction and eflicient in operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a life preserver embodying my invention, applied for use. the same being shown deflated, Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the device inflated, Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 00-00 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of another form of the device, Fig; 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line g of Fig. 5. i

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings comprises an annular collapsible body which is adapted to encircle the wearer, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. said body comprising-inner and outer walls 1 and 2 of air and water-proof material which are secured together at their upper and lower edges to form an annular air compartment 3. The inner wall 1 is extended downwardly to form a strap 4- which is adapted to pass between the lower limbs of the wearer in order to hold the device against upward slipping. At the upper side of the device are provided straps 5 which are adapted to engage over the shoulders of the wearer so as to support the device when in deflated condition, and before the wearer enters the water. The front ends of straps 5 are provided with snap hooks 6 adapted for engagement with the loops 7 provided at the front side of the device.

Inflation of the life preserver is effected through the medium of a tube 8 provided at the front side of the device, said tube communicating at its lower end with the compartment 3. Said tube 8 projects upwardly and is provided at its upper end with a mouth piece 9 in which is provided a flap valve 10 adapted, normally, to permit of entrance of air to the compartment 3 and to prevent exhaust therefrom. A screw-cap 11 is provided at the outer end of mouth piece 9 which may be removed during the inflating operation. Said inflating tube is held in an, upwardly extending position by means of a strap or loop 12 provided at the upper edge of the body of the device which loosely engages with said tube so as to permit of relative vertical movement of said tube in said strap during inflation or deflation of the body of the device.

With the arrangement set forth, it will be seen, that the mouth piece 9 will be held in close proximity with the mouth of the wearer of the device, so that inflation may be readily and easily effected by the wearer after the life preserver has been donned, and before or afterentering the water. The tube 8 is preferably formed of rubber so that the same may be readily flexed'to posi-.

tion the upper end thereof for ready registration with the mouth of the wearer. This positioning of the mouth of the inflating tube is of special advantage since in many cases of emergency, there would not be sufiicient time to inflate the preserver before the wearer would be required to jump for safety. With the construction set forth. inflation of the preserver may be as readily effected in the water as out. After the inflation, cap 11 is applied to absolutely prevent any escape of air or the entrance of water.

The form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is especially designed for use by men and boys. In Figs. 4., 5 and 6 is shown a form which is designed for use by girls and women. This form is practically the same as the first described form. In the latter form, however, the inner wall 1 of the body of the device is formed to conform with the figure of a girl or woman, and is provided at its rearward side with an elastic strap 13 which serves to draw the central portion of the wall 1 into snug engagement with the bodv of the wearer at the waist line. Also. in this form the strap 4 is done away with and in lieu thereof two straps 14 are provided extending from the sides of the body of the device in a downward and forward direction for engagement under the abdominal portion of the wearer.. The straps 14: are provided at their forward ends with a snap hook l5 and cooperating loop 16 for securing said ends together, and the extremity of one of said straps is connected with an adjusting device 17 whereby said straps may be adjusted to any size desired in order to snugly fit the body of the person upon whom the device is used. Except for the modifications noted, the two forms of the device. are' of practically the same construction. I

A life preserver of the construction set forth is of durable and economical construction, the same may be collapsed into small compass when not in use, and w ien desired for use, may be readily and expeditiously applied. sVhen inflated the device possesses such buoyancy as to be adapted to readily support the body of the person so that the head, chest and shoulders will be above the surface of the water.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying my invention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of constructions set forth, but desire to avail myselfof such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. I

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a collapsible member adapted to encircle the body of a person, said member having an annular air compartment formed therein; and an elastic strap provided upon the inner wall of said member and extending circumferentially thereof for drawing the central portion of said member into close engagement with the body of the wearer at the waist line, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described con prising a collapsible member adapted to encircle the body of a person, said member having an annular air compartment formed therein, an elastic strap provided upon the inner wall of said member and extending circumferentially thereof for drawing the central portion of said member into close engagement with the body of the wearer at the waistline, and means connected with said member at the opposite sides thereof adapted to engage around and under the abdominal portion of the body.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

Witnesses: I

ARTHUR A. OLsoN, Josnua R. H. PoTTs.

Copies of this patent may be'obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

